MAGISTRATE’S COURT Youths Admit Charges Of Conversion And Theft

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27640, 22 April 1955, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Youths Admit Charges Of Conversion And Theft

Three young men whose names were ordered to be suppressed in the meantime, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to charges involving the conversion of five motor vehicles, and to breaking and entering two premises in Christchurch and committing theft. Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M., was on the bench. All three youths were remanded on bail to April 28 for sentence and for a report from the Probation Officer.

Two of the accused were represented by Mr J. G. Leggat and the other by Mr A. K. Archer. The three youths were charged jointly on some charges, and with two other youths, and singly. Two of them were charged with breaking and entering and theft at a warehouse on March 22, and with converting a truck valued at £750. One of them ,was charged with converting a car valued at £725, with breaking, entering and theft from premises on March 12, and with converting a car valued at £575, on or about March 5. One was charged that on March 18 he converted a truck valued at £250. The third member of the party was charged that on or about March 12 he converted a car valued at £1250, and that on March 5 he converted a motor-ar valued at £575.

Detective-Sergeant G. C. Urmihart prosecuted. He said that the vehicles involved had been removed from used car premises. Bolt cutters were used to cut the chains securing the premises. Liquor was also stolen from a warehouse. BREAKING AND ENTERING

“You are a young fellow who has come up against the law and is determined to stay against the law,” said the Magistrate, when Patrick William Murphy, aged 26, a labourer, appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering the counting house of I. J. Davenport, Auckland, and committing theft. The Magistrate said Murphy was at present serving a term of two years’ reformative detention. As this offence was committed before he was sentenced to reformative detention, he would not add to the sentence, said the Magistrate. Murphy was convicted and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment concurrent with the sentence he is at present serving. THEFT OF PURSE After stealing a purse containing £29 the accused became frightened and burnt the purse and the money, Detec-tive-Sergeant G. C. Urquhart told the Magistrate, when a young woman appeared on a charge of stealing a purse containing £29. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate adjourned the hearing until April 28 and granted interim suppression of her name. The Magistrate asked for a report from the Probation Officer. INTERFERED WITH CAR Raymond Stewart Hillgrove, aged 21, a labourer (Mr B. J. Drake), pleaded guilty to a charge that on April 1 he unlawfully interfered with a car valued at £5OO, the property of some person unknown. He was remanded to April 28 for sentence, the Magistrate asking for a report from the Probation officer. Detective-Sergeant Urquhart said that at 7.45 p.m. accused was seen by a pedestrian to be testing the doors of cars parked in Gloucester street. He was kept under observation and was seen to enter one car, fiddle with the controls, put the headlights on and push the starter button. The pedestrian then accosted him, and when asked for an explanation, Hillgrove said he was a traffic officer testing some of the cars. He was taken to the police station, where he said he wanted to learn to drive and thought this was the best way of going about it, said Detective-Sergeant Urquhart . REMANDED Charged that on March 28, at Nelson, they escaped from the Nelson prison, Ronald Walter Wright, aged 18, a dry cleaner (Mr W. E. Brown), and Keith Anthony Bradbury, aged 19, a storeman (Mr D. H. Godfrey), were remanded to April 28. INTOXICATION CHARGE DISMISSED A charge against Vincent Maxwell Hanstock, aged 46, a works manager (Mr K. A. Gough), of driving a car while under the influence of liquor in Moorhouse avenue on March 26, was dismissed. Hanstock was also charged with driving negligently on Moorhouse avenue. On this charge he was convicted and fined £3. Sergeant R. W. that at 1.25 ajn. on March 26 he was in a patrol car travelling along Hagley avenue. He saw a car make a right-hand turn into Moorhouse avenue, and in doing so it failed to give way to the police car. The police car chased the other car. Sergeant Alty said that in making the turn Hanstock crossed from one lane to another, and nearly struck a power pole. Hanstock’s speech was slightly slurred and there was a smell of liquor on his breath. When he got out of the car he swayed slightly. He was arrested and later examined by Dr. F. L. Scott, who pronounced him fit to drive, said the sergeant. Sergeant A. Keown said he saw the accused at the police station. When he first spoke to him he considered he was fit to drive. Later in the watchhouse, however, the accused exhibited signs of mild intoxication. Constable J. F. Waugh said he considered defendant was fit to drive a car.

Mr Gough, outlining the defence, said that Hanstock had gone to the house of a friend to check over a radiogram which was not functioning correctly. During the evening three bottles of beer were consumed by four men. When he left the house he was quite sober. Regarding the negligence charge, evidence would be given that he took the turn into MoorhoUse

avenue correctly, there was never any danger of a collision with the police car, and there was no evidence of negligence. Defendant would say that he might have been misled a little by following a bitumen track that covered tram lines which had been lifted. He realised then where he was going and swung on to his correct lane. Evidence along the lines of Mr Gough’s address was given by Hanstock, Brian Patrick Martin, and Patrick Mahoney. ADMITTED TO PROBATION Neville Frederick Holmes, aged 17, an apprentice jockey (Mr J. G. Leggat), appeared for sentence on nine charges of false pretences to which he had previously pleaded guilty. He was further charged with obtaining from

Schneideman and Sons, Ltd., Wellington, on January 25, a pair of trousers for which in payment he falsely represented that a cheque for £7 2s 9d, signed N. F. Holmes, was good and valid, and that on March 14 he incurred a debt of £3 4s with Ivan Ewart Donnithorpe for board and lodging by fraud. Detective-Sergeant G. C. Urquhart said the present charges were those of simple false pretences. Holmes had booked in at a Christchurch hotel and after paying for two days’ board he told the licensee that he had money in the Post Office Savings Bank at Palmerston North and on this representation had been allowed further board.

Mr Leggat said his client apparently had no sense of money control. At the termination of his jockey apprenticeship Holmes had received a substantial sum of money which he had not handled with discretion.

Detective-Sergeant Urquhart said restitution of the sum of £l6B 17s lid would be asked for.

The Magistrate said he was worried what to do with Holmes who had been charged with a series of bad offences. Accused would be given a chance even though it might appear a bit risky. Holmes was admitted to probation for two years on each charge and was ordered to make restitution on terms as directed by the Probation Officer. NAMES SUPPRESSED

On two charges of stealing money totalling £7 5s sd, an 18-year-old youth was released on probation for two years and ordered to make restitution as directed. The name of accused was ordered not to be published. A woman whose name was suppressed was remanded for one week on a charge of stealing a child’s dress. A 17-year-old youth who pleaded guilty to a charge of assault was fined £5. His name was ordered not to be published. BREACHES OF MILITARY TRAINING ACT Neil Thomas Davison was fined £2 for failing to notify a change of address for the purposes of his military training. For failing to attend military parades, Ronald David Shaw (Mr J. G. Rutherford) was convicted and fined £2. FINED FOR ASSAULT James Hugh McDonald pleaded not guilty to a charge that on December 24, 1954, he assaulted Anthony Ulric McDonnell. He was convicted and fined £5. SOLD RIFLE TO YOUTH For selling an air-rifle to a youth under the age of 16 years, William James McKillop was convicted and ordered to pay costs. LIQUOR NEAR DANCE HALL For having liquor in his possession near the Kirwee Hall while a dance was in progress, Eric Rodger Doak was convicted and fined £3. LICENSING CHARGE DISMISSED Charges against Peter Daliessi, licensee of the New Zealander Hotel, of opening his premises for the sale of liquor and exposing liquor for sale after hours were dismissed. For being found on licensed premises after hours, the following persons were fined:— James Joseph McGahey, £1 (Dominion Hotel); Frank John Delaney, £1 (New Zealander Hotel).